Lid-retainer for ice-boxes



Nu. 624,465. Patented May 9,, I899.

I E. L. EVANS.

' Be it known thatI, EDWIN L. EVANS, of the rubber, leather, or analogous material, and

UNITED STATES EDWIN L. EVANS, OF

PATENT OFFICE;

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LID-RETAINER FOR ICE-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,465, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed October 3, v1898.

To all whom it may concern:

city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lid-Retainers for Ice-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip-' tion, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to lid-retainers foriceboxes; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure '1 is a viewin perspective of an icebox provided with my improved lid-retainer. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

In the construction of the device, as shown, a suitable blockl is located upon the rear side of the center of the box, and fixed to said block and extending upwardly therefrom is a post 2, in the upper end of which is formed a vertically-arranged slot 3.

4 indicates a detent that is pivoted upon a bolt 5, passing through the upper end of the post 2, the forward lower corner of said detent being rounded, as indicated by 6, and the notch 7 of said detent being provided with a curved rear face 8. It is essential that the bolt- 5, that pivots this detent, pass through said detent at apoint adjacent its upper edge and above the upper line of the notch 7. Located upon each side of the detent and around the bolt 5 are the washers or friction-disks 9, of

expansive coil-springs 10 are located around the bolt 5 in recesses 11, formed in the post 2, which coil-springs press directly against the disks or washers 9 and cause them to frictionally engage the side faces of the detent.

In Fig. 2 the detent is shown in its normal positionthati s, with the forward end thereof elevated. When the lid of the ice-box is swung upwardly, the upper edge of the lid will strike against the lower portion of the curved rear end 8 of the notch 7 at a point below the pivot-pointof said detent, and said detent will be thrown into a horizontal position, so that the hooked end of said detent Serial No. 692,571- (No inodel.)

will engage the edge of the lid and hold said lid in a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1. Should, however, the detent be in a horizontal position when the lid is swung upwardly, the edge of said lid will strike the curved surface 6, which will elevate the outer end of the detent, after which said lid will strike against the curved surface 8 to lower the forward end of said detent. The washers or disks 9 frictionally engaging the sides of the detent do not allow the same to operate too freely, and when the detent has been elevated by hand to allow the lid to be swung downwardly to close the box said detent'will remain in its elevated position until the lid is raised again.

A device of my construction is applicable for all boxes, trunks, and the like where it is desired to hold the lid open for any length of time, and said device is simple, inexpensive, positive in action, and very efficient in use.

. 1 claim 1. A lid-retainer for ice-boxes, constructed with a post extending upwardly from the rear side of the box, and a detent pivoted to the upper end of said post in a position to engage the forward edge of the box-lid when the same is elevated, substantially as specified.

2. Alid-retainer for boxes, constructed with a post extending upwardly from the rear side of the box, a detent pivotally held at the upper end of the post for engaging the lid of the box when the same is elevated, and frictiondisks applied to the side faces of saiddetent, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a box, of a block located on the rear side of the center thereof, a post fixed to and extending upwardly from said block, in the upper end of which post is formed a slot, a detent having its rear end pivotally located in said slot, friction-disks arranged upon the side faces of said detent, and expansive coil-springs engaging against said friction-disks, substantially-as specified. In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN L. EVANS. \Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. LONGAN, M. P. SMITH. 

